All these cities' data gave us insight into the present conditions when hail forms. But what's stumping us is how it could be so warm (like warmer than the freezing point of water) and frozen water falls from the sky. So with some modeling, it's obvious that it's colder up in the air...but we wanted data to prove this.
We agreed with the following claim students were making: The higher up in the atmosphere, the colder it gets. But we were also wondering how it could be colder up in the air as you're getting closer to the sun. We are recognizing lots of things as we consider this: the air gets "thinner" up the higher you go (whatever that means) and the closer you get to the center of the earth, the denser the particles of substances are (i.e. land is denser than water, as water sits on top of it). We're also considering how sunlight plays a role in heating things up and how energy transfers between substances closer and farther apart.
We ventured outside to collect both temperature and light data, focusing on various surfaces and the air right above them. Could we collect data on the air right near the ground and then above it?
We ventured outside to collect both temperature and light data, focusing on various surfaces and the air right above them. Could we collect data on the air right near the ground and then above it?
After comparing various groups' data, we are seeing the following patterns for most groups (assuming there was some error on our end with our thermometers):
1. The air is colder the higher up you go.
2. The air is warmer closer to the ground, no matter what surface we tested.
3. Darker things like asphalt reflect less light that brighter things like snow.
1. The air is colder the higher up you go.
2. The air is warmer closer to the ground, no matter what surface we tested.
3. Darker things like asphalt reflect less light that brighter things like snow.
This is getting us thinking...
If darker things reflect less light, this must mean they absorb more light than lighter things. As a result, they have more energy in them, which means they can transfer this energy to the air above them. So does this mean that different surfaces can affect the air temperature above them? So many new things to consider, especially as we are seeing warm temperatures present when hail happens!
If darker things reflect less light, this must mean they absorb more light than lighter things. As a result, they have more energy in them, which means they can transfer this energy to the air above them. So does this mean that different surfaces can affect the air temperature above them? So many new things to consider, especially as we are seeing warm temperatures present when hail happens!